Madison Area

Jugglers

Pattern Book

Version 2.0

DRAFT COPY

1/1/2012

Hello Madison Club Passers and Friends!

Welcome to the Madison Area Jugglers Book of Patterns, a collection of patterns for intermediate to advanced passers. These patterns are part of our repertoire and the book is a good indication of our work and a record of our evolution in club passing at Madison.

Originally we wrote down the patterns just to save time arguing over exactly how we did the pattern last time. (Don't worry...there's still plenty of arguing, even with the book.) We were pleasantly surprised to find other people found our book helpful too! The pattern book can be used as a club passing guide or just a library of the patterns that we originated or find interesting. If you're from Madison, then it's a handbook to what we do twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays, and if you don't know the patterns already then you probably will. This book is not intended to be an encyclopedia of all possible passing patterns (that would be a big book)!

Version 1 of this book edited by Mike Newton and Steve Otteson and the Madison Area Jugglers.

Version 2 edited by Luke Emery and the Madison Area Jugglers.

Our thanks go out to all of the many jugglers who have helped us. Club passing is a social pastime that needs a group of similarly inclined jugglers. Many of these patterns are inspired by other jugglers and patterns or created in collaboration with other jugglers. We hope that these patterns will help inspire new club passing ideas and help more jugglers all over the world enjoy club passing!

All jugglers are welcome to play with, use, extend and otherwise enjoy all of our club passing patterns.

This book may be freely reproduced and distributed for non-commercial use.

We have tried to give credit to the creators of the patterns and have indicated when we didn't know. If we have erred in our credits, please let us know.

This book of patterns is on the web at www.madjugglers.com.

Madison, Wisconsin, October 1999 Version 1.0

Madison, Wisconsin, January 2001 Version 1.1

Madison, Wisconsin, March 2001 Version 1.2

Madison, Wisconsin, January 2012 Version 2.0

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions relating to this book, please send us a line via the e-mail address on the web site.

How To Read Patterns

Positions
	B
A	C
	D

Standard Feed

When juggling the cascade, each hand takes turns throwing: right, left, right, left, etc. Usually, all of the jugglers in the pattern throw their right hand throws at the same time, and then their left hand throws at the same time. For most patterns, all the participants juggle at the same synchronized rate.

In general, right hand throws are made to the left hand and left hand throws are made to the right hand. This applies to passes and self throws. (Exceptions will be noted when applicable.)

The two graphs above illustrate a standard feed. The position graph shows where the jugglers stand. The left graph shows where and when passes are made.

The label "Right hand counting" means that all of the right hand throws are numbered in the graph. The column under each number lists the jugglers that pass at that time. Since left hand passes are never made in this particular pattern, they are not listed in the graph. Throws that are not in the graph are self throws.

The first column lists the jugglers in the pattern. The row where a juggler is listed shows to whom and when that juggler passes.

For example, if I was juggler C in the above pattern, I would read along the 3rd row to see where I pass. On the first pass (column 1), I have a self throw (the empty box represents a self throw). For the next right hand throw (column 2), I pass to A. For the next two right hand throws, I do a self throw followed by a pass to A. The table rolls over, so that the fifth pass is the same as the first.

Unless otherwise specified, all passes are single spins and do not cross. Doubles and triples to juggler A would be indicated by D-A and T-A respectively and are also straight unless noted.

Special instructions like different counts, double selves, crossing passes or starting instructions may be noted in the graph or underneath it.

Positions
	B
A	C
	D

Typewriter Extra Club Feed (13 clubs)

Both hands counting, right hand passes

A starts with 4 and right hand

B, C and D start with left hand

Here's an example with double straight passes and special instructions. In this case all the passes are right handed passes, but we count both left and right hand throws. A throws right Double pass to D, then left self, then right Double pass to C, then left self, then right Double pass to B.

How to tip: Jugglers C and D should throw a little higher and deeper so A has room to pass underneath to C and B.

Positions
	A
C		D
	B

Some Funny Left/Right Box

Both hands counting

The above pattern has both hands counting, so the column under 1 is a right hand pass, the column under 2 is a left hand pass, etc.

If I was juggler D, I will read the fourth row to see that I start with a right hand self (column under 1), followed by a left hand pass to B (column under 2). The next 4 throws are: right hand self, left hand pass to C, right hand pass to A, and a left hand pass to C. then the pattern repeats.

Any variation to anything said above will be noted as needed when a pattern requires special circumstances.

Site Swaps

Occasionally passing site swaps are used to describe patterns. For example, 7 club 2-count would be 4p 3 | 3 4p (2^nd juggler starts with left hand). There are a number of different site swap notations out there for passing. We use whatever seems to make sense to us at the moment and make no guarantee of consistency.

Secret Juggling Code Words (Glossary)

3 Person Patterns

Positions
	A
B		C

Feed (for 3 jugglers)

The feed for 3 jugglers is the simplest 3 person pattern and likely the first one you tried. Because juggling with 3 is so much different than with 2, it's often a good idea to be comfortable with other patterns in a 3 person feed before trying them in larger patterns.

Right hand counting

How about left handed, chocolate bar, feeder in double 3-count (and feedees in 3-count), or Tom's (which is 3 passes in a row to each feedee with no selves for the feeder)?

Extra Club Feeds

Then extra club 2-count feeds with 10, 11 and 12 clubs (in singles and doubles and triples). There are 4-count feeds in triples and popcorn feeds in 5-count, 6-count and 7-count. And 7 club double 3-count feeds in pass, pass, pause. And extra club chocolate bar feeds.

4-Count Popcorn Feed

Right hand counting

B starts with 4

6-Count Popcorn Feed

Right hand counting

B starts with 4

This variation makes a nice triangle too.

Note: you can replace any triple self, self, single pass with a triple pass, single self to make things more interesting, or with double straight self, double straight self, pass (533p, 5p33, 443p, 44px3 all work).

5-Count Popcorn Feed (one variation)

Both hands counting, start with right hands

A and C start with 4 clubs

The timing is a bit wonky, B and C should delay slightly at the start.

4.5p:B 3 4.5p:C 3 3 | 3 5 3 4.5p:A 3 | 3 4.5p:A 3 5 3

Extra Clubs Chocolate Bar Feed (one variation)

Both hands counting, start with right hands

A and C start with 4 clubs

A throws all crossing doubles

B and C throw chocolate bar, then double self, double self

The double selves are straight

Fast/Slow Feeds, Gorilla Feeds, Site-Swap Feeds...we do all of them in Madison, but they're not really part of the Pattern Book yet. Look them up somewhere else for now and maybe we'll get some of them in a future passing pattern book.

Positions
	A
B		C

Triangle

When 3 jugglers stand in a triangle, three obvious passing formations are the inside triangle (pass to the juggler on the left with a right hand pass), outside triangle (pass to the juggler on the right with a right hand pass), and two jugglers pass with each other while the other does a self.

Those 3 simple building blocks can be repeated in an infinite variety of permutations in many different counts to provide hours of instruction and diversion. You may already be familiar with the Hovey's Nightmare variations. Mastery of such triangle variations is very useful for larger and more complex patterns.

See Extra Club Triangles for variations of the triangle with 3-count, double 3 count and 1-count, 2-count and 4-count.

Rotating Feed

The Rotating Feed Triangle is the simplest rotating feed. For 3 jugglers, a rotating feed is the same as a feast.

Right hand counting

Positions
	A
B		C

Pulsar

Right hand counting

Rules: Jugglers take turns as feeders: A is first, then C, then B (repeat).

Each feeder feeds the other 2 jugglers.

The next feeder feeds in the opposite order of the previous feeder.

A starts as the feeder and feeds right-left. C is the next feeder and feeds opposite of A, so C feeds left-right. B, the next feeder, feeds opposite of C, namely, right-left. A then feeds left-right, followed by C with right-left, and B finishes the pattern with left-right.

I recommend that feeders call out what they are doing (right-left or left-right) so that the next feeder will know what to do. This will also help every juggler know what is going on.

With the rules and the recommendation, you won't have to memorize all of the passes in the stinking table.

Try this with 1-count, so that both hands pass when you are the feeder.

Pulsar dates to 1993 by Steve Otteson and MAJ.

Three-piece Puzzle (for 2 jugglers)

Right, self, right, self, self, left, self, self, self, left, self, self.

Puzzle Feeder (for 3 jugglers)

Both hands counting, right hand starts

A is the feeder, and B and C are doing the Three-piece Puzzle pattern six throws out of phase.

Puzzle Feast

Both hands counting, right hand starts

In the Puzzle Feast, all 3 jugglers are doing what A did in the Puzzle Feeder pattern.

Three-piece Puzzle and Puzzle Feeder patterns are by Jim Brennen. Puzzle Feast is by Steve Otteson.

Siteswap Feeds

Here are two nice variations related to a Martin's Madness feed.

Both hands counting, right hand starts

A does 441 (i.e. double pass, double pass, shuffle)

Alternatively, A can throw cross double passes and B and C can throw cross passes too (starting on opposite hands).

Both hands counting, right hand starts

A does 5px3px1 (i.e. triple pass, single pass, shuffle)

Alternatively, A can throw straight passes and B and C can throw cross passes (starting on opposite hands).

Reviewers – is that right?

Extra Club Rotating Feed (for 3 jugglers)

Both hands counting.

A and C start with right hand.

B starts with left hand

Variations

Once you're comfortable with this pattern, try pirouetting under the double self, or instead of throwing the double self, do two single selves and an early triple straight pass instead (followed by a pause), or both!

By Luke Emery 1999.

Positions
	A
B		C

Extra Club Triangles

There are a lot of nice extra club triangle variations. Here are a few examples to play with.

This pattern is based on the standard 7 club 3-count in double spins and extends it to a triangle. All passes cross (rights to right, lefts to left). This version has 10 clubs, and A starts with 4 clubs.

10 Club 3 Count Triangle

Both hands counting

All jugglers start in sync with right hand

All passes cross

If that isn't challenging enough. Add more clubs and passes. A and C start with 4.

11 Club 2 of 3 Count Triangle

12 Club 1 Count Triangle

The 10 club version has been around for some time. We learned it from some fellow club passers at a convention, but I don't remember from whom. 11 Club and 12 Club variations by Luke Emery, 2005, although it seems likely that other jugglers have also tried them.

There are corresponding extensions to a 5 person star in the 5 Person Patterns.

10 Club Triangle with Triple-Single-Single

Here's another variation on a 10 club triangle from 4-count 7 with triples.

Right hand counting

You can skip all the single passes until the triple passes are reliable.

6-Count Popcorn Triangle

Right hand counting

A starts with 4

5-Count Popcorn Triangle

Both hand counting

A starts with 4 and right hand

C starts with left

B starts with right

All passes are crossing and alternate hands

Timing is wonky (hands aren't all synced up, so the table is a little misleading...C should wait a bit before the first triple, throw high lofty single crossing passes): 3.3px 3 3 5 3.

The pattern should be possible in 5-count with triple crossing passes too... Hmmm... But fast...

Another 5-Count triangle is to throw crossing triples to the left in 5-count. This timing is also wonky 1 2/3 count or some such difference between each jugger.

10 Club 4-Count Triangle

The juggler with 4 clubs starts with a right hand double to the left and then repeats in 4-count. Each juggler passes a right handed double to the left as the incoming double pass approaches. The timing on this pattern is not symmetric. Each juggler is 1/3 beat out of time with the juggler before. This pattern can be extended to a number of interesting variations, such as the Bubbler of David.

Turbo

Right hand counting

A Turbo is a group of 3 weaving jugglers who feed themselves. It is also a Two-leaf Clover or a continuous change sides feed through the middle. Pass every right hand throw when you are feeding, and pass every other when you are not feeding.

When a juggler moves to the other side, he or she cuts across in front of the old feeder, and turns around to pass to the new feeder.

Note: Turbo is similar to Bruno's Nightmare, but with a much shorter cycle (18 throws compared to 30 passes needed for Bruno's Nightmare).

To learn the Turbo, start by practicing a regular feed change sides. Then learn the feed change sides through the middle. Finally, speed up the change side moves until the feedees all move at the earliest possible opportunity.

Variations

There are a lot of Turbo variations. Turbos can be done in almost any count and combined in many different ways.

Left Handed – Same as above, but mirror image.

3-count – Feeder does 3 count, feedees do 6 count.

Chocolate Bar – Fun!

Double 3 count – Tricky. There are 2 different ways to do the transitions. Usually we have the movers stay in 3-count and move on the inside hand throw. You can also do this pattern where the movers transition in 4 count and move on the outside hand throw. Feels a little like the El Nino.

Tom's Turbo – Feeder is in 1-count and does 3 passes in a row to each feeder. Have each juggler start with a different set of clubs. (Created by Tom Pomraning.)

10-Club Turbo – See below.

Also see Interlocking Turbos in 6 person patterns and Strange Attractor in 5 person patterns.

10-Club Turbo

The 10 Club Turbo has the same positions and movement as the Turbo but with an extra club. Usually we throw the passes as doubles (same as in 7 club 2-count). In order to keep the timing the mover must add an extra beat into the pattern. That can be done by throwing a double self (either right or left) to the opposite hand or by throwing an early triple pass and pausing for one beat. The diagram below shows the early triple, but experiment with whatever works best for you (some people think a right to left double is easier).

Both hands counting

A starts with right hand.

B and C start with left hand.

The table shows 2 transitions. Note that the old feeder (A) passes twice in a row to the new feeder (C). The mover (B) throws a triple to the new feeder at the SAME time as the new feeder throws a double to the mover and then pauses for one beat. The feeder and the 2 feedees are always on opposite timings (the feeder's right is synchronized with the feedees' lefts).

The easiest way to learn is by practicing the change sides feed with transitions on the outside and getting comfortable with the triple or the self double timing transition. Then learn the inside transition and finally rev it up to true turbo speed. Excelsior!

By Luke Emery, 1999.

Variations

Try with single passes instead of double passes in 7 club 2 count singles speed.

We worked out an 11-Club Turbo variation with triple selves on the transitions, but it's too hard for us to run more than a couple transitions at a time. Maybe we'll get it in a future version of the book.

Another 10-Club Turbo

The pattern above will always be the 10-Club Turbo, but here is another version that makes a nice diversion. It's based on an extra club feed too, but the transitions in the middle are made by a half pirouette underneath a right to left double.

The feedee who is moving first steps into the middle of the pattern directly between the feeder and the non-moving feedee. After one pass the moving feedee does a half pirouette underneath a double right to left self throw, Then steps back to complete a single turbo transition. The table below has one complete transition.

Both hands counting

A starts with R

B and C start with L

D-self is a half pirouette

When you do the half pirouette, make sure to throw the double more inside than usual and have the outside passers pass a little on the wide side to reduce collisions.

By Luke Emery, 2002.

Lines

The Line is another classic family of patterns with countless variations. Here are a few we often juggle in Madison.

A double 3 count pass with a moving juggler in the middle spinning around. If Mel is B (Mel is always B), and starts facing A, then it looks like this.

Both hands counting

Peter's Backcrosses

If you replace Mel with Peter, change to 3-count, remove spinning and add backcrosses, you get this pattern.

All jugglers are in 3-count. Use the exact same pass sequence, but B (that's Peter – ok, Mel isn't always B) faces perpendicular to the line from A to B and makes all the passes as backcrosses, alternately to A and C.

Swiftly Tilting Popcorn

Extra club version of Mel in the Middle, except in 4-count instead of 3-count. Inside person whirls with half pirouettes under doubles while outsides do popcorn. All passes are right handed.

Both hands counting

A starts with 4 clubs, right hand

B starts facing A, right hand

C starts with left hand

½ P marks half pirouette underneath the double

1 is the same as 11. This is just one possible variation of spinning underneath popcorn.

Dropback Line

A passes to B. B drops back to C. C passes to A. You can do a dropback line in any count: 2-count, 4-count, 3-count, chocolate bar. It's a nice pattern to add clubs to as well. Try one two, or 3 extra clubs with doubles or one extra club in 3-count (A and B cross, C throws straight).

Line Feed

You can do any of the feed variations in a line layout instead of a V. Some will be useful for more complex patterns. Also see 4 person Lines.

Positions
	A
	B
	C

Extra Club Line

What do you do if there are 3 club passers and one is more advanced, one is intermediate and the third is a beginner. Here's a nice pattern to accommodate everyone!

A and B face each other. C faces A and B. A starts with 4 clubs.

Both hands counting

A alternates right hand doubles to C and singles to B. B does right hand 4-count to A. A alternates right triple selves and doubles to A (fast popcorn).

Positions
	A
	B
	C

GDP

Right hand counting

A starts with 4 clubs and passes triple to C, single to A. B faces A, starts with a self, and passes every others to A. C starts with a self, then triple every others to A.

The description above is the base pattern without movement. We will follow the pattern of movement by concentrating on B. All jugglers do the following sequence at different times.

Right hand counting:

B: self, single to A, self, self (while replacing A), triple to C, self (A replaces C), triple to A, single to C, triple to A, self, (as B moves to the middle). Start over.

By Luke Emery, 1999.

Variations

Doubles – Throw doubles instead of singles.

A variety of tricks can be done while moving into the center (such as an early triple followed by a pirouette, etc.)

There's a 5 person variation we call Cathedral in the 5 Person Patterns.

Up, Up and Over

Ok, Mike, how do you do this one, exactly?

4 Person Patterns

Box

The box is a classic passing pattern with dozens of variations, many of which have been around for a long time. It's a great foundation for innovating new patterns, though.

Right hand counting

2 Count Box

Both hands counting

A, B start with right

C, D start with left

1 Count Asynchronous Box

Both hands counting

This is a good exercise to practice timing. All jugglers throw at exactly the same time. Wide throws make it a little easier. You can do the same pattern with synchronous ultimates, but that's pretty hard.

Almost any staggered passing pattern will work with a box, and many that are synchronous. A moving variation in 4 count is for C and D to swap places when A and B pass and vice versa. Other variations are Pistons and the Minuet.

Extra Club Boxes

13 Club Box – Throw a double right pass to the juggler on your left in 4-count. Each passer passes on their own beat.

14 Club Box – This can be done with pairs of jugglers synchronized in a 7 club 2-count, but it is easiest if each juggler is ½ beat after each other.

14 Club 4-Count Box – This is a box where each pair of juggler does 7 club 4-count with triples. The two pairs are 1 beat away from each other (A and B's rights are synchronized with C and D's lefts).

16 Club Box – There are several nice 16 club box variations. To reduce collisions, have A and C throw triples while B and D throw singles (½ beat after each other). The overall timing is about the same as 8 doubles (or 7 singles). This is a pretty pattern. You can also do a 16 club box pattern with all the jugglers synchronized in 8 club 2-count singles, doubles or triples. Nice! Pass either straight across, or to the juggler on the left.

18 Club Box – With 9 club triples 2 count and each juggler offset ½ beat. However, if you are doing this pattern, you probably don't need our suggestions on club passing in a box... Very cool, but tricky!

Also see Fireworks.

14 Club Ultimate Box

Both hands counting

A and C start with 4 clubs and right hands

B and D start with 3 clubs and left hands

Throw a little wide on the double passes and make sure that everyone has metronome perfect timing and it actually works!

Pattern by Luke Emery, 2007.

Positions
	A
D		B
	C

Bermuda Quadrangle

Both hands counting

Start with R

Bermuda Quadrangle by Laura and Becky Provance, Barry Friedman, and Steve Otteson.

Maya

Both hands counting

Start with R

Maya, by Tom Pomraning, was published in Jugglers World. Tom makes incredible chocolates as well as juggling patterns.

Interlocking Triangles

Right hand counting

Positions
	A
D		B
	C

Spider Web

This is a variation of the box with 3 extra clubs and all right hand passes.

Both hands counting, all passes with right hand

A and C start with right

B and D start with left

Extra Club Rotating Feed (for 4 jugglers)

This is a box pattern with a rotating feed for 4 jugglers and one extra club.

The graph shows a counter clockwise feed but both directions work.

Both hands counting, all right hand throws are either double passes or double selves

A starts with 4 clubs

A and B start with right hand

C and D start with left hand

The steady state right hand sequence is pass across, pass left, self, pass across, self.

Gustav

This is a double 3-count extra club pattern for four jugglers in a box pattern.

Both hands counting

A starts with 4 clubs

A throws triple crosses, B throws triple straights

C and D start slightly after A and B – timing is a bit wonky

Pattern by Luke Emery, 2008 and named after the hurricane.

Switch Sides Feed

The standard Switch Sides Feed is an easy introduction to moving while passing. The extra club version is a fun and spectacular pattern.

Windshield Wiper Switch Sides Feed

Right hands counting

Start with right hand

In this version, weavers move back and forth in an 8-count.

Typewriter Switch Sides Feed